DOI issue:
No. 95 (February, 1901)
DOI article:Praetorius, Charles J.: Maori houses
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.19787#0038
Maori Houses
•CARVED SLABS
FROM DRAWINGS HY C. J. PR/ETORIUS
CARVED SLAB FROM A DRAWING BY
C. J. PR.HTORIUS
the construction of a "Pa" was the
sacrifice and burial of a slave under
the main posts of the fence. Some
of the old " Pa's " enclosed villages
containing as many as two thousand
natives.
Each house had its own enclosed
yard, and many varieties of houses
were to be found in the " Pa," ac-
cording to the rank and wealth of
the owner.
spaces of the background were filled with curved The most important building, often erected to
patterns—straight lines were seldom used in old celebrate some tribal event, such as the massacre
work, and when met with they generally occur in of Europeans, or a victory in battle, was the great
work of a late school. meeting-house or guest-house. Here were held
Houses in New Zealand were generally built in all great councils of war and other important
villages, the whole being enclosed by a high ceremonies : on this house no expense was spared,
palisade consisting of a
wooden fence, with strong
posts at intervals, which
were roughly carved as
grotesque human forms.
1 he whole enclosure was
•called " E-Pa," or " Pa."
A great ceremony during chisel of nephrite from a drawing ky c. j. pr^f.torius
23
•CARVED SLABS
FROM DRAWINGS HY C. J. PR/ETORIUS
CARVED SLAB FROM A DRAWING BY
C. J. PR.HTORIUS
the construction of a "Pa" was the
sacrifice and burial of a slave under
the main posts of the fence. Some
of the old " Pa's " enclosed villages
containing as many as two thousand
natives.
Each house had its own enclosed
yard, and many varieties of houses
were to be found in the " Pa," ac-
cording to the rank and wealth of
the owner.
spaces of the background were filled with curved The most important building, often erected to
patterns—straight lines were seldom used in old celebrate some tribal event, such as the massacre
work, and when met with they generally occur in of Europeans, or a victory in battle, was the great
work of a late school. meeting-house or guest-house. Here were held
Houses in New Zealand were generally built in all great councils of war and other important
villages, the whole being enclosed by a high ceremonies : on this house no expense was spared,
palisade consisting of a
wooden fence, with strong
posts at intervals, which
were roughly carved as
grotesque human forms.
1 he whole enclosure was
•called " E-Pa," or " Pa."
A great ceremony during chisel of nephrite from a drawing ky c. j. pr^f.torius
23